Time Passes By

Today is my oldest daughter's birthday. I first met Cassidy in 1995. She was two and her mom brought her to our college campus. She was infectious...dancing around with her curly blond locks and her buck teeth. I had no idea at that moment that she would become a part of my family. Now she has turned 17 and in less than 10 months, she will be transitioning to her own college life. It is hard not to tear up when I reflect on the years gone by and look ahead to the transition of the next year. Do I really have to let her go?
We have had our moments over the years...those moments when we are at one another's throats...arguing over things that ultimately don't matter. Unfortunately, I cannot undo all of the crummy things that I have said in the heat of the moment. But, what I really love about Cassidy is her capacity to forgive and the grace that she has extended to me throughout her life. She teaches me what it means to love unconditionally.
I have been thinking a lot lately about what it means to live an extraordinary life...to step into God's story, realizing that we are each uniquely created by Him and have the potential within us to go beyond the ordinary. Even though I don't want to let her go, I am really excited to see how Cassidy's special gifts touch the lives of others in the coming years.

Cassidy, on your day, I wish you all of the happiness in the world. I pray blessings over you....that the Spirit of God would indwell you and shine through you. Happy birthday...you will always be my Bug!

Never Grow Up
By Taylor Swift

Your little hand's wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light
To you everything's funny, you got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have, honey
If you could stay like that

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple
I won't let nobody hurt you, won't let no one break your heart
And no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, never grow up

You're in the car on the way to the movies
And you're mortified your mom's dropping you off
At 14 there's just so much you can't do
And you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots
But don't make her drop you off around the block
Remember that she's getting older too
And don't lose the way that you dance around in your pj's getting ready for school

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple
No one's ever burned you, nothing's ever left you scarred
And even though you want to, just try to never grow up

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother's favorite songs
I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone

So here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off
It's so much colder that I thought it would be
So I tuck myself in and turn my night light on

Wish I'd never grown up
I wish I'd never grown up

Oh I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
I could still be little
Oh I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
It could still be simple
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple
Won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
And even though you want to, please try to never grow up
Oh, don't you ever grow up
Oh, never grow up, just never grow up